tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:12:46 +0000Obamafar-rightsloppy thinkingIraqculture2008far-leftGWOTfreedompoliticsDemocratic PartyIsraelanti-war Leftapologists for evilMcCainracismIslamhysteriareligionObama Derangement SyndromeCongressSarah Palincrimeraceideasmoral courageanti-Americanismliberalism9/11BushHitchensIranblack leadershipblogging stuffconservatismidgitsHillaryiconsmedia biasmilitarymiscellanysilly political moveswar2012 electionGOPLatin AmericaRomneyblog admindebatemedia whoredomBDSCentrismIslamismJoe the PlumberObama criticism from the Leftabortionlawpartisanshipphony outragepossible hysteriathe mediaConstitutionHollywoodLebanonMiddle EastReverend WrightSCOTUSblack culturecrazy peopledouchebagsegomaniacsgreat TVimmigrationlamenessliteraturemen of couragemoviesterrorism2004AfghanistanAmericaHuckabeeJoe LiebermanNY TimesNazismNobel Peace PrizeSNLSopranosTVanti-Israel sentimentanti-Obama sentimentblog warfareblogsextremismgay marriagehealth carehumortea partiestorturewrestlingAfricaAlthouseBidenBin LadenBritainChristmasDuke rape caseFort Hood massacreFox NewsHamasKatrinaMemorial DayPalestinePelosiRalph NaderRush LimbaughSonia SotomayorThe ClintonsTransformersacademiablogger evolutionconspiraciesconspiracy nutscorruptiondeath of tyrantsevilfeminismflip-flopsgeek stuffgood blogs that I disagree withgreat blogsheroismhistoryiPhonesideologymemespoetryrighty blogssexsexismsocialismsportsthe Presidency4th of JulyAndrew McCarthyAndrew SullivanAyersBain CapitalBen SteinBeyonceBidenismsBill MaherBushismsCastroCharles JohnsonCheneyCivil WarClarence ThomasCold WarCubaDavid CarradineDeclaration of IndependenceEgyptEric HolderEtta JamesFox News is a right-wing networkGabrielle GiffordsGen. McChrystalGeorgiaGlenn BeckGoogleHaitiHarold FordHarry ReidHeavenHezbollahImusInaugurationInternetIrshad ManjiIslamophobiaJack LondonJapanJewsKenyaKosovoLBJLibyaLittle Green FootballsMJTMaoMichael Bay's flawed directingMos DefMother's DayNeil Patrick HarrisNew AgeNixonNorth KoreaObama as typical politicianObama worshipObama's Mideast TourOsama bin LadenPajamas MediaPaul BermanRick WarrenRod BlagojevichRon PaulRonald ReaganRussiaScientiologyScoop JacksonShepard SmithSomali pirate crisisSuperfriendsThe RockThomas SowellTina FeyUK terror attacksUnited NationsVT massacreVeepstakesVeterans DayVietnamWWEWestern civilizationanti-semitismanti-war rightbad ideasbad journalismbad parentingbigotrybirthdaysbookscavemenchildrenchipmunkscivil rightscomputerscoping with griefdeathdebatesdemocracydissentearthquakeeducationfascismfootballgaysglobal warminggunshaharsh reviewsheroic dissenthypocrisyjournalismjusticelanguagelaw and disorderlawsuitslazinesslyingmeaty wordsmusicold-school vs. new-schoolpantspartianshippoliticization of tragedypoliticizing the militaryrandom stuffrobotssciencesexual imagerysloppy journalismsnobgatetechnologythe right-wing mirror universethe war debate set straighttheatricstotalitarianismtreasontyrantsunexpected wisdomweak leadershipwomenwriter's strikeThe Liberal War JournalRevived, phoenix-like from the ashes of neglect...The mildly presumptuous blog of a center-Left liberal from the heart of Baltimore. Still ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ANTI-HYSTERIA.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)Blogger466125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-6994556956181934874Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:19:00 +00002012-10-16T08:19:24.069-04:002012 electionCongressGOPLibyaObama"I know that we're very close to an election," Clinton told CNN. "I want to just take a step back here and say from my own experience, we are at our best as Americans when we pull together. I've done that with Democratic presidents and Republican presidents."You see, here's the difference between real, serious leadership and pretend leadership right <a href="http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20121016/LT.Clinton.Libya/?cid=hero_media">here</a>: The Obama Administration, including the State Department has trying to manage the situation in Libya, and the GOP leadership is trying to politically exploit the situation in Libya. <br /><br />You see, beating Obama is the top priority for them, so instead of letting the investigations continue, or coming up with real solutions to deal with consulate security, they pounce on every perceived political advantage. It's beyond shameful, and there weren't a hundred other reasons not to trust them with power, this would be reason enough.<br /><br />BTW, I'm not suggesting that mistakes weren't made, and people shouldn't be held accountable, but it's clear to me that the primary motivation of the&nbsp;Republicans&nbsp;here is to shift all blame to the President, as to help Mitt Romney. Like I said, shameful.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-know-that-were-very-close-to-election.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-2550849282645015192Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:25:00 +00002012-10-09T21:04:00.587-04:002012 electionfar-rightKatrinalyingObamaObama as typical politicianraceracismRomneyA Real Scandal Behind The 2007 "Race Video?"The right (namely Fox and the Daily Caller) has been making all kinds of fuss over the 2007 speech then-Senator Obama gave at Hampton University, with Rev. Wright in the audience, in which he supposedly engages is dirty racial politics. This was interpreted by the Right as proof of his racial animus and radicalism, and the media's refusal to hold him accountable. Most of the nonsense behind this has been shot down, although there is one substantive issue in the tape, brought up by <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2012/10/09/phony_in_chief/page/full/">Thomas Sowell</a>&nbsp;(HT: <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/barack-obama-in-his-old-community.html">Althouse</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px;">Unlike Jeremiah Wright's church, the U.S. Senate keeps a record of who was there on a given day. The Congressional Record for May 24, 2007 shows Senator Barack Obama present that day and voting on the bill that waived the Stafford Act requirement. Moreover, he was one of just 14 Senators who voted against -- repeat, AGAINST -- the legislation which included the waiver.</span></blockquote>As to this alleged hypocrisy of his vote, Sowell's leaving facts out: Senator Obama voted against the final bill, but supported an earlier version which included an Iraq withdrawal timetable. FWIW, I would've voted for the final bill, because I opposed a timetable for withdrawal, and I also find it bad form to vote against something that important, even without a timetable. I suspect, as with similar bills, Obama knew the bill would pass, and voted against it as a statement about the war. It's a typical politician move, but I can defend that.<br /><br />The problem is, he knew the bill would pass, and that it did pass, so it appears that he was lying when he told the audience at Hampton that it&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;pass. I'm not really sure how you square it any other way. Now, as to the racial politics of this, I suspect Obama was making a larger point about frustration in the black community--and used the Stafford Act as evidence. Now, a great number of conservatives were convinced before this "revelation" that Obama is an evil race baiter, and will judge him as such no matter what. At best, he was making a legitimate point using untrue facts. At worst, it was a cynical and deceptive pander.<br /><br />Deal-breaker? Hardly. Disappointing? Yeah. This is a typical politician move, and I can't really defend it. Not much else I can add. Even if I were to somehow abandon Obama over a few political lies, who would I turn to, Romney? The man who lies as a matter of course? The man whose entire campaign is based on panders, hype, personal attacks and bullshit? I think not.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-real-scandal-behind-2007-race-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-4838974301881054829Thu, 04 Oct 2012 04:41:00 +00002012-10-04T00:41:24.170-04:002012 electiondebatesfootballObamaRomney"I blame John Kerry. I'll bet he was a terrible practice partner."Yeah, maybe <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/lets-watch-debate.html">that's what went wrong</a>. Needless to say, this debate has to go to Romney. On the substance, Obama was right on all the policy points, but he just let Romney launch attack after attack, distortion after distortion, and they all went unchallenged. The thing is, Romney didn't even come off angry or&nbsp;contemptuous-- he seemed confident, while the President looked mellow and passive. He had moments of stride, but he let too many arguments go unchallenged. Romney had personal anecdotes, and Obama really didn't. To use a football analogy, Obama never got to the quarterback, and posted a disappointing lack of offense.<br /><br />Ideally, the fact the Obama told the truth and Romney lied repeatedly should count--but in a debate you have to press the issue, and the President didn't do the job. Methinks he might have been too focused on not making gaffes, so he played it safe. Maybe it was his lack of a<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/10/03/video_barack_obama_and_mitt_romney_s_old_debate_performances_.html"> real debate challenge</a> prior to this. Either way, he needs to readjust, and bring the heat next time.<br /><br />Not that this changes things as much as certain people think it will. Let's not panic.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-blame-john-kerry-ill-bet-he-was.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-8313471363403939809Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:17:00 +00002012-10-03T19:19:58.305-04:002012 electionfar-rightObama Derangement Syndromeracism"Those of you who are pleased with these seemingly exciting new weapons to use in the fight to defeat Obama are losing perspective. You are not thinking about how you look to the people you need to convince. Here’s a clue: You look ugly."<a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-identify-myself-as-outlier-at.html">You can say that again.&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><br /><br /> Here's the thing Ann, The way I see it, they've never had perspective on these things. Obama hatred has clouded their judgment. Anyone who looks at that clip and thinks that this somehow hurts Obama in any significant way has lost perspective. Anyone who remains unburdened by the deluge of deceptions coming from Team Romney--about welfare, Medicare, taxes, redistribution, Obama's Israel policy, etc, has lost perspective. They lost perspective years ago. They never had perspective when it came to Obama. It's Obama Derangement, plain and simple. http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/hose-of-you-who-are-pleased-with-these.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-25767300272693743Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:50:00 +00002012-10-03T19:20:17.252-04:002012 electionhypocrisyObamaRomneysloppy journalism"To present that as some sort of secret revelation of emotional problems is just wrong."Yeah, you know it really sucks to have your words <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/cbs-distorts-what-ann-romney-said-about.html">taken out of context</a> like that. You know, to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNHeTwoy5vI">take out a single line</a> from someone's remarks, ignore the context-providing comments attached to that line, and make it seem like you said something <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia">you didn't actually say</a>. That really has to sting.<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;For the record, I'm not defending CBS. It's wrong to do what they did as a matter of principle. http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/to-present-that-as-some-sort-of-secret.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-376689869954976500Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:20:00 +00002012-10-02T21:20:04.935-04:00blog adminI'm Back...I've been away awhile, but I'm back, and I'm really trying to keep up a consistent schedule, at least up until the election.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/im-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-2763317111327149094Sat, 14 Jul 2012 01:15:00 +00002012-07-13T21:16:31.068-04:002012 electionBain CapitalObamaRomney"An incumbent President running for reelection should not unleash his executive powers to hound his opponent with a criminal investigation. That is not preferable."I agree with <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/wapo-fact-checker-gives-obama-campaign.html">this:</a> <blockquote>An incumbent President running for reelection should not unleash his executive powers to hound his opponent with a criminal investigation. That is not preferable. There's no decent "put your money where your mouth is" argument for that. It's not his money, it's the authority of the United States government, and that must not be appropriated for political gain. Within the political arena, he can make whatever arguments he wants over any evidence that's out there about his opponent, and he incurs the risks that people will judge his arguments weak or even disgusting and dishonest. That's the process and it's working. Don't push the candidate into some other, abusive process!</blockquote> Despite Glenn Kessler's fact-checking, I'm still not convinced this issue is settled, but the idea of the chief executive using the executive power to punish his opponents for the purposes his reelection is not a good look. The President has not considered such a move, and that is good.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/07/incumbent-president-running-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-5527253551275668137Wed, 16 May 2012 01:12:00 +00002012-05-15T21:12:11.136-04:00evilfascismfeminismfreedomIrshad ManjiIslamismliberalismmoral courage"Who will defend these people, these truest heroes of modern freedom? That is the only question."One of those people is <a href="http://www.tnr.com/article/world/103301/islam-censorship-efd-manji-suppression">liberal Muslim freedom fighter</a> Irshad Manji, who was attacked by Islamists in Indonesia, for promoting reform within Islam. For all the talk about the "war on women," the idiotic base politics of foolish Republicans may be worthy of scorn, but let's put things in perspective, folks--actual fascists are waging a full-scale war on women, which is a part of a larger war on free thought. If you mad about a ban on contraception, but not about Irshad Manji being attacked with iron bars, then you're not serious... HT: <a href="http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/michael-j-totten/weekend-reading-2">Michael Totten</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2012/05/who-will-defend-these-people-these.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-4156300997273043481Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:41:00 +00002011-08-23T00:41:50.813-04:00evilIraqmovies"You ought to know you’ve gone off the rails when Saddam Hussein is appalled by your behavior."Yeah. <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/michaeltotten/2011/08/22/the-id-of-mesopotamia/">Michael Totten </a>gives a look at the new film <i>The Devil's Double</i>, about Ltif Yahia, the man forced to be a body double for the bloodthirsty, hedonistic, murderous fiend Uday Hussein. <br /><br />Read it all. http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/you-ought-to-know-youve-gone-off-rails.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-6290050517927612643Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +00002011-08-15T09:17:28.649-04:00Britaincrimeculture"England has become a sick society."<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/08/13/2011-08-13_monika_konczyk_jumper_in_iconic_london_riot_photo_speaks_out_crowd_happy_for_me_.html">"They were happy for me to die," she continued. "They were like animals - greedy, selfish animals who thought only of themselves."</a><br /><br />HT: <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-thought-london-was-civilized-society.html">Althouse</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/england-has-become-sick-society.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-992965062181433907Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:50:00 +00002011-01-11T01:50:40.841-05:00crimefar-leftfar-rightGabrielle Giffordshamedia biasObamapartisanshipSarah Palinsloppy thinkingtea parties"Yet they fail to understand that this will appear to conservatives as an attempt"<a href="http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/81168/the-arizona-shooting-not-product-right-wing-rage">"...to use the emotion of the moment to stigmatize them. The mania of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party must be dealt with on their own terms."</a><br /><br />With some caveats, this sounds about right, I think. Let's be clear: Neither Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity, any conservative talker you can name, the Tea Party, or whatever, can be blamed for this act of violent horror. The problem of our toxic political discourse is real and frankly, distinct from this. Both sides, and this secnario is no different, have a rather tragic tendency to try and score political points on this tragedies, and it's wrong. The Left has done it, and it's wrong. The Right has done it, and it's wrong. Besides the fact that Loughner's ideological leanings appear to be a incoherent mess of nihilistic, antigovernment rage, I don't think the lack of Sarah Palin's map, or the DNC's map, or Kos's map, or Obama's inapt Untouchables reference would have stopped this guy.<br /><br />More on this later. I'll ger pushback here, but I think Chait is right on this:<br /><br /><blockquote>Now, I do believe there is a problem with the current political moment. Both extremes of the political spectrum can embrace apocalyptic thinking and rejection of the democratic process. The left-wing version came to the fore during the 1960s, but it is tiny and almost completely disconnected from Democratic politics. The right-wing version, on the other hand, is drawing ever more tightly into an embrace with putatively respectable Republican politics. Since the closing stages of the 2008 election, conservatives have regularly described President Obama as an alien figure and his policies a fundamental threat to American liberty. It has become normal for conservatives to hint that they will take up arms if they don't get their way politically -- a violation of the cultural norm of respecting democratic outcomes that forms the basis for the stability of our political system. Sharron Angle, not just a fringe activist but the GOP's candidate in a major Senate race, rhetorically flirted with outright sedition, and Republicans paid no attention to this, because they wanted to beat Harry Reid. </blockquote><br />Oh, and by the way, I freely admit that as the Right has taken it to the next level under OBama, the Left did many of the same things under Bush. I could get into a discussion of who is worse, but that would be fruitless at this point.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/yet-they-fail-to-understand-that-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-52640942331901128Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:53:00 +00002010-10-25T04:54:21.801-04:00academiafar-leftfar-rightObamaObama criticism from the Leftsloppy thinkingtea partiesWhat Happens When Burned Out Leftists at Berkeley Meet To Discuss The Tea Party?<a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2272097/">It gets weird real quick:</a> <br /><br /><blockquote>"There is that U.S. DNA that goes all the way back and does provide the conceptual source for this lynch mob mentality," says Steve Martinot, who teaches at San Francisco State University. "And that is white supremacy. Shouldn't we be looking at the Tea Party through that?"<br /><br />Perlstein moves around the question. "The thing that makes America different, and this is a very dialectical, paradoxical concept, is that we have a lot of democracy," he says. "The idea that everyone has an opinion of about what they're hearing is both the glory and the tragedy of American democracy."<br /><br /></blockquote><br />And this one: <br /><br /><blockquote>"I wonder if we're likely to see a Timothy McVeigh situation," says Nicholas Robert, an attendee originally from Australia, who basically wonders if any Tea Partiers can be arrested. "It seems to be that we're being very polite. I wonder if there are any legal mechanisms—one that comes to mind are the provisions used to crush the Wobblies."<br /><br />He gets no sympathy from the academics. "I think that's a dangerous road to go down," says Berlet.<br /><br />Abramowitz finds me and whispers into my ear. "In Berkeley," he says, "you're seeing the other side of polarization."<br /><br /></blockquote><br />Yeah. Sheesh. I mean, I said this before, but sometimes people just bring heat on themselves. This reads like an Onion article, I swear.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/10/it-gets-weird-real-quick-there-is-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-8903935896804886116Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:10:00 +00002012-07-13T22:23:05.470-04:00Andrew Sullivanblogging stuffgood blogs that I disagree withgreat blogsIsraelA Toast..Andrew Sullivan is celebrating ten years of blogging on his site the Daily Dish, and has <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/10/the-view-from-my-window-2000-2010.html">offered bloggers a schance the toast or roast his blog</a>. Consider this a toast. Now, I'm no where near as influential (or consistent in terms of output) as him, or most of the others who've praised him, but I just wanted to take the opportunity and heap much deserved praise on a solid blogger (not to mention keep up with my own blog). Congrats for ten years.<br /><br />Now, I've been following Andrew and the Dish for about the last six years, and I won't pretend I've agreed with everything that was said, although I&nbsp;found myself agreeing with him more in say 2005-2006, than say 2000.&nbsp;Of course, the thing about good blogs is not that agree with everything--I find myself disagreeing often with a lot of bloggers I check out, but it's about whether they're serious, and having interesting things to say. Sullivan has beeen that. <br /><br />I've had, and still have issues with some of things he's written:&nbsp;The bulk&nbsp;of his&nbsp;Palin coverage is neccessary and proper, but often borders on personal obsession. He has routinely been accused of being a Obama worshipper. As one who is still a fan of this President, I think there are times when his praise has reached hero-worship levels, yet at other times his criticisms have been harsh and unrealistic. As for the last part, say what you want--he's been quite consistent, holding Obama to the same standards of his predecessor. His critique of Israel is I think, misinformed, but I reject out of hand the assertions of his critics of sinister motives. I've said some impolite things elsewhere about his work that I&nbsp;mostly regret now, but if anyone can understand that, I'm sure he can.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I feel good work deserves proper praise, so I offer it up. His coverage of the revolution in Iran was indispensable. I like the awards, those are good. The mental health breaks, and all the funny stuff is exactly that. As much as his anti-Clinton sentiment, or some of his foreign policy views, or other things he may write may induce eye-rolling, and frustration, there is a reason his blog remains one of the first ones I read daily. He does good work, and deep down&nbsp;he seems a decent person. That's really all I'm looking for in reading good blogs--solid people, who despite disagreements on issues, are generally decent people, and have thoughtful things to say. <br /><br />Congrats against for ten years, Andrew Sullivan and crew. Keep doing what you're doing.<br /><br />BTW, besides my own blog, I often (and honestly, mostly in the last couple of years) blog at my second home <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/">Stubborn Facts</a>. This is blatant self-promotion, but if you want an example of how thoughtful blogging is done with people whom you often disagree on policy, this is it.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/10/toast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-2745444643001414263Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:02:00 +00002010-08-16T20:02:06.768-04:00booksJack Londonracismsocialism"And yet there is an infected scar running across his politics that is hard to ignore."<blockquote>"I am first of all a white man, and only then a socialist," he said, and he meant it. His socialism followed a strict apartheid: It was for his pigmentary group alone. Every other ethnic group, he said, should be subjugated—or exterminated. "The history of civilization is a history of wandering—a wandering, sword in hand, of strong breeds, clearing away and hewing down the weak and less fit," he said coolly. "The dominant races are robbing and slaying in every corner of the globe." This was a good thing, because "they were unable to stand the concentration and sustained effort which pre-eminently mark the races best fitted to live in this world."<br /></blockquote><br />The blood-curdling words, of <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2261928">Jack London</a>. Read the whole thing.<br /><br />HT: <a href="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2010/08/no-lucid-demonstration-of-logic-and.html">Althouse</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/08/and-yet-there-is-infected-scar-running.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-348845179984566750Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:51:00 +00002011-12-16T22:06:26.211-05:00bad journalismfar-rightFox Newsmedia biasObama Derangement SyndromeThe Only Thing She Destroys Is Her CredibilityThis clip is old by now, but I had to chime in on this. I plan to post on the mass hysteria over this New Black Panther Party case, and the allegations of racial preference in prosecution at the DOJ, but first a wanted to post this clip, in which Megyn Kelly, who is supposed to be a hard news journalist, and a lawyer, makes a spectacular fool of herself on live television:<br /><br /><object width="320" height="240"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZIO9Au2bQEA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZIO9Au2bQEA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="320" height="240"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Now, the original poster of the clip, based on the title that was chose, apparently thought Kirsten Powers was destroyed by Kelly. I say again, the only thing Megyn Kelly destroyed was her credibility. <br /><br />HT: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/07/megyn-kellys-minstrel-show.html">Dave Weigel, at the Dish</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/07/only-thing-she-destroys-is-her.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-3859855494381187132Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:41:00 +00002010-07-19T00:41:06.400-04:00anti-Israel sentimentapologists for evilgaysIslamismIsraelJewsMiddle EastNazismsloppy thinking"From Nazi Germany to the modern Middle East, societies that persecute Jews will get to homosexuals eventually...""... if they haven't been dispensed with already. This is a lesson that gays ignore at their peril."<br /><br />Jamie Kirchick <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704535004575348762519857870.html">sounds off</a> on the banning of the Tel Aviv float in Madrid's big gay pride parade. Apparently, hating on Israel just seems to take precedence over everything these days:<br /><br /><blockquote>Like so many other democratic values, when it comes to gay rights Israel is an oasis in a sea of state-sanctioned repression, a "little patch," to use Mr. Poveda's words, that he and his comrades ought to defend. Gays serve openly in the Israeli military. While gay marriages can't be legally performed in Israel, the government grants gay couples many of the same rights as heterosexual ones and recognizes same-sex unions performed abroad. Many Palestinian gays seek asylum in Israel.</blockquote><br />You know, this reminds of, I think it was a comedy bit, that mocked a real life group that was called "Gays for Palestine." The thing is, anyone who supported such a groups would neccessarily be oblivious of what actually happens to gays in Palestine, and Iran, and Saudi Arabia, and, well you get the idea.<br /><br />HT: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/07/the-gays-and-the-jews.html">Frum, at the Dish</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/07/from-nazi-germany-to-modern-middle-east.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-8205389002857107407Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:34:00 +00002010-07-13T03:15:00.434-04:00anti-Obama sentimentIsraellamenessObamasloppy thinkingNow, I Don't Agree With Everything Barry Rubin Writes In This Piece,but one salient point stands out. There is increasing concern amongst Israelis, and non-Obama hating supporters of Israel, about the direction of a number of Obama's policies concerning Israel. A regrettable portion of criticism of Obama's Israel policy has been hysterical and off the wall, but a great deal of it, especially from actual Israelis, is real, and valid, and to <a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/gloria/2010/07/obama-cant-figure-out-why-he-worries-israelis">basically paint them all as Tom Tancredos</a> is beneath you, Mr. President. <br /><br /><blockquote>First, let's remember that Obama's first name is Barack, which is as much of Semitic language derivation as Hussein. Of course, that first name is found in Hebrew as well as Arabic. After all, Israel's defense minister is Ehud Barak and my Hebrew name sound the same though there are two different roots involved, while Hussein is more distinctively Arabic. But still, Obama's lack of awareness about the implications of his own name doesn't indicate a great depth of knowledge about the Middle East.<br /><br />Second, Obama was initially--when he had the same name as he does now--quite popular in Israel as polls show. Only when he evinced hostility did the attitude of Israelis change sharply.<br /><br />Third, that same name belies the impliction that Israelis are biased against him because of his middle name. Israelis, after all, have dealt with two famous Husseins: King Hussein of Jordan and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The former was a good friend, the most popular Arab leader in Israeli history. (Note 1)<br /><br />So one can be a good Hussein or a bad Hussein. Of course the issue with this third Hussein is his policies. And that's why I find his saying this thing far more upsetting.</blockquote><br />I say again that the rift's degree has been exaggarated by some, but it is real, and this sort of thing isn't helping.<br /><br />HT: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/07/because-my-name-is-hussein.html">Frum, at the Dish</a><br /><br />ADDED: Looking over the <a href="http://israelinsider.ning.com/profiles/blogs/obama-israelis-suspect-me">actual video</a> in context, his comments seem less harsh, but he still seem to be avoiding the reality that many of his actual policies have generated some real concern. I think Obama is going to have to take real steps to smooth things over, and actually address these concerns. This sort of rhetoric doesn't help.<br /><br />Michael Totten <a href="http://www.michaeltotten.com/2010/07/hussein-has-nothing-to-do-with-it.php">spells it out clearly:</a><br /><br /><blockquote>I was in Jerusalem the day he was inaugurated. Everyone knew his middle name then, and the Israelis I met on that trip swooned over him as much as my bohemian neighbors in Portland did. Whether for good reasons or bad, his plummeting poll numbers are based entirely on what has occurred between then and now.</blockquote>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/07/now-i-dont-agree-with-everything-barry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-3457048913964007586Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:20:00 +00002010-06-01T01:20:25.526-04:00anti-Israel sentimentIranIsraelObamasloppy thinking"The president acts sometimes like he’s running the country from his dorm room, and it looks increasingly likely..."<a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/303466">"...that he will not stop until something explodes."</a><br /><br />Michael Totten, on the fairy-tale, pipe dream thinking that apparently underlies the Obama Adminstration's decision to sign on to a new UN resolution, that purports to oppose nuclear weapons, yet sees Israel as the roadblock, not Iran--that is to say, the country that has been threatened is the problem, not the threatener. <br /><br />Now, there are an increasing number of people beginning to cast real doubt about President Obama's commitment to Israel. I don't have those doubts, and I don't think this decision is based on any malice towards the Jewish state, but the sort of delusional thinking underlying this decision is not ehat I expected for a mature President. Many have accused Obama of operating out of a need to please world opinion, national security risks notwithstanding. I've never had any doubt that that idea was false--until now. <br /><br />Rethink this one, Mr. President. You ought to know better.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/06/president-acts-sometimes-like-hes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-8633812756075226379Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:18:00 +00002010-06-01T01:23:14.845-04:00anti-Israel sentimentIsraelmedia biasNipping A Blood Libel In The BudChances are you may have heard a story about Israelis firing on an aid vessel bound for Gaza. You may have heard about how innocent aid workers were attacked by Israeli commandos. You'd have heard about how the international community is up in arms. Here's the thing:<br /><br /><br />It's a lie. A filthy lie. Don't get me wrong, the international community is in fact up in arms, but that's because they believed the lie. What else is new? In <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6jDIQr59Sk&feature=player_embedded">this clip</a>, you can clearly see and hear IDF warning the vessel about proper protocol:<br /><br /><br />The full story is <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/terror-finance-flotilla">here</a>, and <a href="http://newledger.com/2010/05/blood-libel-against-israel/">here.</a><br /><br />HT: <a href="http://www.michaeltotten.com/2010/05/the-gaza-flotilla-was-not-about-aid.php">Michael Totten</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/06/nipping-blood-libel-in-bud.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-8824297421957436304Mon, 31 May 2010 22:50:00 +00002010-05-31T18:50:19.631-04:00far-rightfreedomMemorial DayObamatea parties"They are apocalyptic pessimists about public life and childlike optimists swaddled in self-esteem when it comes to their own powers. "Via <a href="http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/28491?in=16:16&out=28:30">this excellent BHTV diavlog</a> comes a link to <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/may/27/tea-party-jacobins/?pagination=false">this must-read piece </a>on the underlying mindset of the Tea Parties, and the modern conservative movement, by Mark Lilla:<br /><br /><i>Now an angry group of Americans wants to be freer still—free from government agencies that protect their health, wealth, and well-being; free from problems and policies too difficult to understand; free from parties and coalitions; free from experts who think they know better than they do; free from politicians who don’t talk or look like they do (and Barack Obama certainly doesn’t). They want to say what they have to say without fear of contradiction, and then hear someone on television tell them they’re right. They don’t want the rule of the people, though that’s what they say. They want to be people without rules—and, who knows, they may succeed. This is America, where wishes come true. And where no one remembers the adage “Beware what you wish for.” </i><br /><br />Read the whole thing. The way I see it, it's as if they want freedom, for free. Freedom to criticize, free of criticism. Freedom from hard choices. Freedom from expertise. Freedom from the real world. It's as if they say, "give my liberty, and as for the rest of you..."<br /><br />The anger is real, and a lot of it has to do with real frustration over real crises. Blaming the government, the media, Obama, the Democrats, etc, is easy. Trying to maintain coherence by railing against government, and cuts in Medicare at the same time, is hard. Coming up with solutions is hard. It's one thing to want to be free, but freedom is hard. <br /><br />Happy Memorial Day, and in which we honor our bravest men and women, who've paid the ultimate price for freedom, and continue to pay it every day.http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/they-are-apocalyptic-pessimists-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-4544180326076707653Fri, 28 May 2010 05:58:00 +00002010-05-28T02:02:05.579-04:00Andrew McCarthyanti-Obama sentimentfar-rightGWOTObama Derangement Syndromesloppy thinkingThe Madness of Andy McCarthyConor Friedersdorf <a href="http://trueslant.com/conorfriedersdorf/2010/05/26/the-manifold-inaccuracies-of-andy-mccarthys-new-book/">soundly exposes</a> the manifold, insidious deception in Andy McCarthy's new book:<br /><br /><blockquote>Mr. McCarthy would have us believe that President Obama refuses to acknowledge the September 11 attacks, the appropriateness of the word war, or the fact that our current military efforts abroad are directed at real enemies. Yet here is a speech where the president does all those things in the space of one brief passage. The degree of misrepresentation that Mr. McCarthy permits himself is staggering.</blockquote><br />He goes on:<br /><br /><blockquote>It is so easily shown to be false that it ought to exist only in the author’s mind. Unfortunately, this misinformation is being touted by Rush Limbaugh as piercing, Michelle Malkin is recommending it to her readers, and Mark Levin is calling it “thorough” and “cutting edge, and few of their listeners will question the facts the book presents because they foolishly if understandably underestimate the capacity for intellectual negligence perpetrated by these hosts everyday.<br /><br />They rave about a book.<br /><br />I’ve read a single excerpt, and already the mistakes demonstrated by simple Google searches are multitude. <br /></blockquote><br />Read the whole thing. It's quite amazing to me how people like McCarthy continually get serious treatment from allegedly serious people. It's one thing to have serious, substantive disagreements with Obama on policy, but it is a viler and more destructive thing, to willfully distort and invent facts, in order to advance a case that the President, and the Left are guilty will willful treason--a case that could only be true in the fairy-tale universe of his own brain. Assuming McCarthy has any intention of the book achieving mainstream success, the excerpts he presents ought to show that this whole unhinged partisan enterprise is rotten from top to bottom, and not worth the paper it's printed on.<br /><br />Just sayin.'<br /><br />HT: <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/05/the-locus-of-epistemic-closure.html">Sully</a>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/madness-of-andy-mccarthy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-5155591650457460986Thu, 20 May 2010 15:49:00 +00002010-05-20T11:51:19.631-04:00BushdemocracyfreedomMiddle EastObama"George W. Bush is missed by activists in Cairo and elsewhere who—despite possible misgivings about his policies..."<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703862704575099522687820394.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion">"...benefited from his firm stance on democratic progress. During the time he kept up pressure on dictators, there were openings for a democratic opposition to flourish. The current Obama policy seems weak and inconsistent by contrast."</a><br /><br />Ouch. Now, I think he's being a bit harsh, but it's hard to argue, and this is something I've wrestled with for a while (and was touched on <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/foreign_policy/there_isnt_single_objectionable_point_first_fifteen_minutes_his_presentation">here</a>), that maybe President Obama might be more of a cold-eyed realist than we liberal hawks who supported him realized. I still hope I'm wrong, and there's reason to--but this sort of thing ought to be embarassing--on a purely personal legacy level. <br /><br />HT: <a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/294956">Jennifer Rubin</a>, via <a href="http://www.michaeltotten.com/2010/05/i-posted-the-following-at-instapundit-today.php">Totten</a><br /><br /><i>cross posted at <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/foreign_policy/george_w_bush_missed_activists_cairo_and_elsewhere_who%E2%80%94despite_possible_misgivings_about_his_policies">Stubborn Facts</a>.</i>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/george-w-bush-is-missed-by-activists-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-6161916823199818808Wed, 19 May 2010 23:37:00 +00002010-05-20T11:52:52.274-04:00apologists for evilHamasHezbollahIslamismIsraelsloppy thinkingterrorism"What's the right script? Honestly, I don't know."<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-goldberg-censor-20100518,0,5167137.column">"But those perched atop the moral high ground will have to climb down to find the facts before they can write it."</a><br /><br />Jonah Goldberg, in serious mode, asks some good questions. Read it all.<br /><br />HT: <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/99568/">Totten, on Instapundit</a><br /><br /><i>cross posted at <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/foreign_policy/whats_right_script_honestly_i_dont_know">Stubborn Facts</a>. </i>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/whats-right-script-honestly-i-dont-know.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-7149096345219876139Fri, 14 May 2010 08:02:00 +00002010-05-20T11:54:16.371-04:00apologists for evilBushfar-leftfar-rightIslamObamaPaul Bermansloppy thinking"There isn't a single objectionable point in the first fifteen minutes of his presentation."<a href="http://www.michaeltotten.com/2010/05/the-flight-of-the-intellectuals.php">"Unfortunately, the sixteenth minute arrives, and, if you are still paying attention, you learn that he wants us to revere the most vicious and reactionary of Islamist sheikhs -- the people who promote violence, bigotry, totalitarianism, and terror. The sixteenth minute is not good. The liberal quality of his thinking falls apart entirely."</a><br /><br />That's from Paul Berman, about Tariq Ramadan, in a must-read interview with Michael Totten, about his must-read book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933633514?ie=UTF8&tag=michajtottesm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1933633514"><i>The Flight of the Intellectuals</i></a>. They also discuss Bush Derangement Syndrome, Obama's strengths and weaknesses, and the lack of clarity of certain Western liberal intellectuals. <br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/lameness/you_know_i_dont_usually_criticize_obama_selfrighteous_moralizing#comment-20816">Max for the hat tip.</a><br /><br /><i>cross posted at <a href="http://stubbornfacts.us/foreign_policy/there_isnt_single_objectionable_point_first_fifteen_minutes_his_presentation">Stubborn Facts</a>.</i>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/there-isnt-single-objectionable-point.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977858.post-207243538692532740Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:15:00 +00002010-03-22T15:20:07.161-04:00Congresshealth careObamaHealth Care Has Passed, 219-212.<p>Let the celebrations (or commiserations) begin. </p><p>Discuss.</p><p>I’ll have more complete thoughts later.</p>http://liberalwarjournal.blogspot.com/2010/03/health-care-has-passed-219-212.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Rafique Tucker)0